California Governor Signs Right-to-Die Legislation

By Samuel Miller
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America and Oceania

SACRAMENTO, CA, United States of America — California Gov. Jerry Brown signed “right-to-die” legislation on Monday that will allow the terminally ill to legally end their lives. California has joined four other states that allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives with a doctor’s supervision.

Advocates of the Right-to-Die Legislation Illustrate the Case of Brittney Maynard. (Photo Courtesy of BBC News)

The California legislation is modeled after the Death with Dignity law passed by Oregon voters in 1994, which made that state the first in the nation to allow some terminally ill patients to choose the time of their own death.

In a rare personal message, Gov. Jerry Brown provided insight into his deliberations before deciding to sign the bill, reflecting on religion and self-determination as he weighed an emotionally fraught choice.

“In the end, I was left to reflect on what I would want in the face of my own death,” said Gov. Brown. “I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain. I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill.” Gov. Brown has previously been treated for prostate cancer and melanoma.

Brown’s signature on the right-to-die legislation Monday capped an intensely personal debate that dominated much of this year’s legislative session and divided lawmakers. Many lawmakers also drew on personal experience to explain their decisions to support or reject legislation making California the fifth state to allow terminally ill patients to use doctor-prescribed drugs to end their lives.

The measure applies only to mentally sound people and not those who are depressed or impaired. The bill includes requirements that patients be physically capable of taking the medication themselves, that two doctors approve it, that the patients submit several written requests and that there be two witnesses, one of whom is not a family member.

Supporters hope that adoption of right-to-die legislation in the nation’s most populous state will spur approval elsewhere, although legislation introduced this year in at least two dozen other states stalled. Opponents said Monday that they were disappointed the governor relied so heavily on his personal experience in his decision and that they were considering options to stop it.

Among those opposed to the law are religious groups and advocates for people with disabilities, who worry it could open the door to all kinds of terrible scenarios, such as premature suicide, coerced early death and overriding God’s will.

At the center of the debate was Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old California woman with brain cancer who drew national attention for her decision to move to Oregon to end her life. Prior to Ms. Maynard taking her own life, she told California lawmakers that the terminally ill should not have to “leave their home and community for peace of mind, to escape suffering and to plan for a gentle death.”

For more information, please see:

ABC News — Gov. Brown Signs California Right-to-Die Measure – 6 October 2015

CNN — California governor signs ‘right to die’ bill – 6 October 2015

Washington Post — Jerry Brown just signed right-to die-legislation in California. Here’s how we got here. – 6 October 2015

BBC News — California enacts right-to-die law for terminally ill – 5 October 2015

WebMD — CA Governor Signs Right-to-Die Bill Into Law – 5 October 2015

North Korea Releases South Korean NYU Student After Six Month Detainment

By Christine Khamis

Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

SEOUL, South Korea –

North Korea has released and deported South Korean student Joo Won-moon after detaining him for six months. Mr. Joo was caught crossing the North Korea-China border in April and was arrested for what North Korea called a serious violation of its laws. Upon Mr. Joo’s release, North Korea stated that it deported him as a humanitarian measure.

A screen-shot of Mr. Joo during an interview with CNN in May. (Photo courtesy of NPR)

On Monday, Mr. Joo was handed over to South Korean officials at Panmunjom, a village on the border of North and South Korea. The South Korean government has stated that its National Intelligence Service will investigate Mr. Joo’s act of crossing into North Korea. Mr. Joo’s crossing into North Korea was a violation of South Korea’s national security law, which forbids unapproved travel to the North.

Mr. Joo is a permanent citizen of the United States and attends New York University. At the time of his detainment, Mr. Joo was taking a semester off from NYU and had traveled to North Korea after trying unsuccessfully to find employment in California.

Mr. Joo states that he was treated well by North Korean officials during his detainment. He recently appeared in front of North Korean state media and gave a statement saying that he had not been allowed to contact his family but wanted them to know that he was healthy. In his media appearance, Mr. Joo also acknowledged that he had entered the country illegally and read from a speech praising North Korea and its government.

Mr. Joo’s recent appearance in front of the North Korean state media. (Photo courtesy of International Business Times)

In an interview with CNN in May, Mr. Joo stated that he had hoped to improve relations between North and South Korea with his act of crossing the China-North Korea border. Mr. Joo told CNN that he had hoped that some great event would happen and that it would hopefully have a positive effect on the relationship between North and South Korea, but that he was not sure at the time what great event his actions could lead to.

North Korea currently has three other South Koreans detained for crimes of espionage. South Korea states that the charges against them are “groundless”. While South Korea welcomes Mr. Joo’s release, the South Korean Unification Ministry has called for North Korea to free the three detained South Koreans as well.

North Korea is also holding a Korean-Canadian pastor who has confessed to crimes aimed at overthrowing the state, according to North Korea’s state media.

North and South Korea came to an agreement in August to improve ties after a period of heightened conflict. One of their attempts at improving ties is to allow families separated since the Korean War to temporarily reunite with their family members later this month.

 

For more information, please see:

Associated Press – North Korea Releases Detained South Korean Student – 5 October 2015

CNN – North Korea Releases NYU Student – 5 October 2015

International Business Times – North Korea to Release Detained New York University Student – 5 October 2015

NPR – North Korea Releases Detained NYU Student to South Korea – 5 October 2015

New York Times – N.Y.U. Student Detained in North Korea Is Released, South Says – 5 October 2015

 

Reuters – North Korea Frees South Korean Student Held Since April — 5 October 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mausoleum Destruction in Timbuktu Leads to ICC Case

By Tyler Campbell

Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

 

THE HAGUE, Netherlands – This September the International Criminal Court faced its first suspect charged with deliberately destroying religious or historical monuments. The suspect’s name is Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi and he is charged in connection with the destruction of historic monuments in Timbuktu. This destruction took place in 2012 when Islamist Tuareg rebels took over the city and destroyed 14 of cities 16 historic mausoleums. These mausoleums had been labeled and protected as parts of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Islamist militants destroying historic Mausoleum. Photo courtesy of the BBC

The ICC’s accusation against Mahdi reads that he committed a “direct attack against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, and historic monuments.” This charge has been grouped under the larger umbrella of war crimes. The ICC issued a warrant for Mahdi since he is considers a war criminal for these acts. The case was transferred from the Niger court, by the prosecuting attorney Fatou Bensouda, to the ICC after it issued a warrant on September 18.

 

Judge Cuno Tarfusser heard Mahdi’s opening statements and set the date for the first formal hearing on January 18, 2016. During this hearing Mahdi gave some basic information about himself saying, “My name is Ahmad Al Faqi Al Mahdi, and I am from the Tuareg tribe… I was born about 40 years ago. I am a graduated of the teacher’s institute in Timbuktu and I was a civil servant in the education department… beginning in 2011.” He also asked to be spoken to in Arabic but declined further statements until he consulted his lawyers.

 

Prosecution at the ICC has alleged that Mahadi was at the head of the Hesbah during the Islamist Tuareg rebels control of Timbuktu in 2012 through 2013. The Hesbah acted as a sort of morality police, enforcing the Islamic religion, during this time period and lead the attack on 10 of the protected historical monuments. The Hesbah targeted these buildings because they were seen as symbols of idolatry to the Islamic faith.

 

The leader of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, applauded the decision by the Niger prosecution to transfer this case to the ICC. The direct attack by the Tuareg rebels was seen as a crime against not only the people of Timbuktu but also the world. “The cultural heritage of Mali belongs to all humanity,” she said in a statement given after the transfer. Since the attack, UNESCO has been busy helping the people of Timbuktu rebuild the 14 mausoleums that were destroyed during the occupation. The buildings can be rebuilt, but the thousands of ancient manuscripts that were burnt during the occupation, sadly, are lost forever.

 

 

 

 

For more information, please see:

BBC – Timbuktu mausoleum destruction suspect appears at ICC – 30 September 2015

Deutsche Welle – Islamist leader faces ICC over Timbuktu mausoleum destruction – 30 September 2015

AP – Suspect in destruction of Timbuktu mausoleums sent to ICC – 26 September 2015

All Africa – UN Hails War Crimes Trial for Suspect in Destruction of Historic Monuments – 26 September 2015